Shabad Kirtan: Jo Jo Tere Bhagat Dukhaye by Bhai Sarabjit Singh Ji. Thank you for the beautiful Kirtan. Source “Bhai Sarabjit Singh Ji on YouTube.
by Harnaak Singh
The Global Sikh Council played a crucial role in the International Sikh Conference in Jakarta Indonesia from 1st to 3rd December 2017 as reported in The World Sikh News (at LINK). The key players in this conference seem to be GSC and MGC and a new face Harinder Singh (Sikhri), who is a well-known International speaker, in the GSC/MGC alignment.
In a number of articles it was shown that both Global Sikh Council and MGC have a strong Kala Afghana alignment.
Does the introduction of Harinder Singh (Sikhri) imply a move by the GSC and MGC from their Kala Afghana stand?
To answer this question we have to see what ideology Harinder Singh espouses.
In this article we present some research on this matter.
It appears that Harinder Singh (Sikhri) is also aligned to the Kala Afghana Ideology.
INTRODUCTION
The international Sikh Conference was held in Jakarta from 1st to 3rd December 2017. The photo in Figure 1 shows the main people involved in this conference.
Figure 1: The Speakers at the ISC (Source World Sikh News)
For a big sounding name, the conference seems to be a gathering of a small group of the Kala Afghana Brigade members with a new face Harinder Singh (Sikhri). There is no evidence of an across the board Sikh representation. It could likely be an exercise in the indoctrination of the Indonesian Sikh youth with the Kala Afghana Ideology.
There were speakers from many countries (Indonesia, Switzerland [1], India [3], USA [2], Hong Kong [1]) with one of the bigger representations to be from Malaysia with three participants Dr Amarjit, Dr Karminder and Dr Harbant. Both Drs Amarjit and Karminder are from the MGC (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Dr Amarjit Singh (left) and Dr Karminder Singh (right) both from MGC
GSC President Lady Kanwaljit (Figure 3) delivered a speech through Skype on 1-Dec-2017. The World Sikh News captioned her statement as follows.
The President of the Global Sikh Council, Lady Kanwaljit Kaur raises core issues of sovereignty of Guru Granth Sahib, uniqueness of the Panth-adopted Sikh Rehat Maryada and exhorts the Sikh youth to follow core values, focusing on Sarbat da Bhala and ignoring rituals and unnecessary practices.
Figure 3: GSC President (source: The World Sikh News)
A point to note aboutth is cleverly worded statement. GSC merely pays lip service to the Sikh Rehat Maryada and the sovereignty of the Guru Granth Sahib. Some key beliefs, which prove this (lip service) of the GSC/MGC are as follows.
- Rejection of SGGS Ji as a LIVING GURU of the Sikhs. For them SGGS Ji is a book of knowledge.
- Reject the compositions of Guru Gobind Singh and hence five nitnem banees.
- They distort and misinterpret Sikh history.
- They support the deist concept of God.
- They are exploring changing Ek Oangkar to Ek Oh Beant.
- They support the Kala Afghana Ideology
- They support Kathakars prohibited by the Akaal Takhat.
Note that GSC has been declared Panth Dokhi by the Akaal Takhat.
The above have been discussed in articles at Gurvichar.
Now we present our findings about Harinder Singh (Sikhri) (see Figure 4).
Figure 4: Harinder Singh (Sikhri)
PRECURSOR
Harinder Singh was involved in the Sojhi syllabus. See Figure 5.
The Sojhi syllabus is a curriculum to impart Sikh Values and traditions to Sikh children. The values in this curriculum must be based on the long accepted Sikh tenets and traditions. Therefore it is important that these must be reflected in the beliefs and ideology of developers. Why? Since inevitably the beliefs and ideology of the developers will be reflected in the curriculum. The developers of the Sojhi syllabus are Sikhri and Harinder Singh (see Figure 5).
Concerns with Sojhi
An article at SCRIBD (see extract Figure 5) by the Sangat (see LINK for article) have highlighted some concerns with the Sojhi syllabus. Further a discussion between the Sangat and the Jathedar, Figure 6, also highlighted these concerns. This discussion is available and is included below Figure 6.
Figure 5: Snapshot of article at SCRIBD
Figure 6: Snapshot of YouTube post of Discussion between Sangat and Jathedar
Video: Discussion – Sangat and Jathedar
THE CONCERNS (condensed from the SCRIBD article)
The concerns with Sojhi are highlighted below.
The major concern is change to “Gurmantar” and the “Dohra”. Other changes were related to misinterpretation of historical events related to our Gurus, reference to Sri Guru Granth Sahib as a book, rejecting the 1985 change to Rehat Maryada.
We shall look at each of these below.
Gurmantar
Change to using ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ instead of ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ as Gurmantar. The article reveals that word ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ is the correct Gurmantar based on
- Gurbani,
- the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Figure 7)
- Vaaran Bhai Gurdas and
- Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh
Figure 7: ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ – Sikh Rehat Maryada
NOTE (by the author of this article): The word ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ has three syllables (ਵਾਹ, ਗੁ, ਰੂ) while ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ has four syllables (ਵਾ, ਹਿ, ਗੁ, ਰੂ). The key purpose of Gurmantar is NAAM SIMRAN meditation through the means of NAAD sound. NAAM SIMRAN is a process which generally is in synchrony with the breath. Each breath has two phases (IN and OUT), i.e. even number of phases. An even syllabled sound is more comfortable for synchrony with the breath. Therefore ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ is better than the 3 syllable ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ for effective single person meditation. This change subtly impacts the effectiveness of NAAM SIMRAN.
This appears to be an attempt to cripple the NAAM SIMRAN capability of a SIKH.
Dohra
The Sojhi syllabus calls Sikhs who refer to Guru Granth Sahib Ji as ਦੇਹ or body of the Gurus to be equivalent to ‘idol worshippers.’ The “Sojhi” syllabus stresses that Guru Granth Sahib is not the physical form of the Guru. Further the syllabus mentions that “Granth” means “book” implying that SGGS Ji is a book (of spiritual knowledge).
In view of this they propose that
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਜੀ ਮਾਨੀਓ ਪਰਗਟ ਗੁਰਾਂ ਕੀ ਦੇਹ । ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮਿਲਬੋ ਚਹੈ ਖੋਜ ਸਬਦ ਮੈਂ ਲੇਹ ।
be changed to
ਗੁਰੂ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਮਾਨੀਅਹਿ ਪਰਗਟ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੀ ਦੇਹ । ਜੋ ਸਿਖ ਮੋ ਮਿਲਬੋ ਚਹਿਹ ਖੋਜ ਇਨਹੁ ਮਹਿ ਲੇਹੁ ।
where there is no reference to SGGS Ji as a ਦੇਹ i.e. the embodiment of Guru, a living Guru.
Therefore it appears that the developers of Sojhi do not accept SGGS Ji as a ਪਰਗਟ ਗੁਰਾਂ ਕੀ ਦੇਹ LIVING GURU as was edicted by Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Ji said
ਆਗਿਆ ਭਈ ਅਕਾਲ ਕੀ ਤਬੀ ਚਲਾਇਓ ਪੰਥ ॥
ਸਭ ਸਿਖਨ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨਿਯੋ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ॥
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਜੀ ਮਾਨਿਯੋ ਪਰਗਟ ਗੁਰਾਂ ਕੀ ਦੇਹ ॥
ਜੋ ਪ੍ਭ ਕੋ ਮਿਲਬੋ ਚਹੈ ਖੋਜ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਮੈਂ ਲੇਹ ॥
NOTE (by the author of this article): Another important point to note is that if we do not consider SGGS Ji a LIVING GURU but as a book of spiritual knowledge, then the stage is set for human beings to proclaim themselves to be the living guru.
This very concept of SGGS Ji as the LIVING GURU without any doubt, excludes a living human being, for a TRUE Sikh. And this is what Guru Gobind Singh Ji intended.
This is clearly a rejection of SGGS Ji as our LIVING GURU.
Guru Gobind Was saved by Five Sikhs
Sojhi syllabus says at the battle of the Chamkaur (ਚਮਕੌਰ), the Guru’s elder sons attained martyrdom, and the Guru was saved by five Sikhs and he evacuated Chamkaur.”
This view is inaccurate since it implies that the Guru was not able to save himself. We find in Gurbani and Sikh History that the Guru is perfect and needs no help from anyone to be saved. In fact, the Guru is the savior in our lives.
This appears and attempt to distort and misinterpret Sikh history.
Rehat Maryada
The “Sojhi” syllabus rejects the changes to SRM by Akaal Takhat dated 28-Apr-1985. This amendment stated the 5 Banees Jap, Jaap, 10 Sawayeeyay, Benti Chapai and Anand as the morning NITNEM banees.
This implies that the developers of “Sojhi” do not accept the compositions of Guru Gobind Singh Ji enshrined in the Dasam Granth.
ALIGNMENT OF THE DEVELOPERS OF SOJHI (SIKHRI and Harinder Singh)
From a study of the article it becomes clear that the Sikhri and Harinder are aligned with the Kala Afghana Brigade. The points that allude to this are
- Changing of Gurmantar (the KA Brigade does not believe in NAAM SIMRAN meditation).
- Consider the SGGS Ji as a book of spiritual knowledge (the KA Brigade does not believe in concept of LIVING GURU)
- Distort/misinterpret historical events (the KA Brigade rejects all historical records, Dasam Granth, compositions of Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Nand Lal and other historical Granths)
- Reject that there a 5 morning nitnem banees (the KA Brigade rejects Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s compositions in Dasam Granth)
CONCLUSION
The analysis of the article “Concerns of Sojhi syllabus” shows as follows:
- an attempt to cripple NAAM SIMRAN in Sikhi
- rejection of SGGS Ji as a LIVING GURU of the Sikhs
- attempt to distort and misinterpret Sikh history
- reject Sikh Rehat Maryada
- reject the compositions of Guru Gobind Singh (in Dasam Granth).
This reveals clearly the Kala Afghana alignment of Sikhri and Harinder Singh.
Thank you for reading. Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
Gur Vichar 